Rajella fyllae facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rajella fyllae |
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| Illustration of a young female Raja fyllae by Lütken, 1887 | |
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Rajella fyllae is a type of skate, which is a flat fish related to sharks. It belongs to the Rajidae family. These interesting creatures live deep in the ocean.
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What's in a Name?
The scientific name fyllae comes from the ship HDMS Fylla. This ship was used for science trips to Greenland in 1884 and 1886. The very first Rajella fyllae specimen, called the holotype, was found during these trips.
This skate is sometimes called the round ray or round skate. But be careful! These names are also used for other types of rays. Some people also call it Fylla's ray.
Where Does it Live?
The round ray makes its home in the cold waters of the North Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic Ocean. It is a benthic fish, which means it lives on or near the seabed.
You can find these skates very deep underwater. They usually live between 300 and 800 meters (about 980 to 2,600 feet) deep. Sometimes, they are found as deep as 2,055 meters (over 6,700 feet)! The water where they live is very cold, usually between 3 and 5.5 degrees Celsius (37 to 42 degrees Fahrenheit).
What Does it Look Like?
Like all skates, the round ray has a flat body. It has wide, wing-like fins on its sides, called pectoral fins. These fins help it glide through the water.
This skate can grow up to 60 centimeters (about 2 feet) long. Its upper side is usually grey or brown. The underside is lighter, often light grey or fawn. It also has darker spots on its pelvic fins and near its pectoral fins.
What Does it Eat?
Rajella fyllae is a carnivore, meaning it eats other small animals. Its diet includes tiny sea creatures like mysids, copepods, crustaceans, and amphipods. These are all small invertebrates that live in the ocean.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
When it's time to have babies, the male and female round rays pair up. They have a special "embrace" during breeding.
This skate is oviparous, which means it lays eggs. The eggs are oblong, like a stretched oval. They have stiff, pointed "horns" at each corner. The female skate lays these eggs on sandy or muddy parts of the ocean floor.
See also
- Fish of the Atlantic Ocean
- Fish of the Arctic Ocean
